The Government of Canada launched the Telecom Competition Roadmap to improve competition and increase choice for Canadians.
The roadmap describes actions that the government will implement:
More choice – to increase competition and give consumers more choice, the government will make it easier for competitors to join existing networks and expand their networks.
Better prices – to help Canadians take advantage of more affordable plans, the Canadian government will highlight competitive offers, make it easier to shop and switch providers and eliminate unnecessary fees.
High-quality networks – the Canadian government will ensure that consumers benefit from high-quality services across the country, and the government will help companies install the latest fiber optic networks, experiment with new technologies and strengthen access to reliable connectivity in rural and indigenous communities.
The government will monitor progress using indicators such as prices, switching behaviour, network speed, coverage and consumer complaints. The Government of Canada says parts of the roadmap are already underway, offering benefits to consumers.
Why this roadmap is important
When you think of telecommunications in Canada, everyone thinks of the Big Three: Bell, Telus and Rogers, and even if you think of a sub-brand like Koodo or Lucky Mobile, those are also owned by the Big Three. And while there are other options like Freedom Mobile, owned by Quebec’s Videotron, the lack of competition and options in the country has led to incredibly expensive phone plans, especially compared to other countries.
In November 2025, the federal budget detailed the country’s plan to increase telecom competition. This includes the “grave once” policy approach to help speed up deployment and enable telcos to work together and share more of their fiber networks.
Source: Government of Canada